Tuesday, July 5 2005 19:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tel Aviv: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today (July 5, 2005) expressed confidence that the crisis in the coalition following the pullout of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Ministers from his Cabinet would soon be over and he would like the TRS to continue as a partner "as far as possible".

"Basically, we fought as allies in the elections and would like them to continue as far as possible," he told sources in Tel Aviv reacting to the developments in Hyderabad yesterday (July 4, 2005) when five TRS ministers resigned protesting against Reddy's "anti-Telangana" policies.

However, he said that a separate State of Telangana can be created only after a second State reorganisation commission is formed.

"If a separate State of Telangana is to be created it can be done only after the second State reorganisation commission is constituted. We (Congress and TRS) had fought the elections as allies with a joint declaration clearly stating the same," Reddy, who is on a three-day visit to Israel, said.

"In fact, the Congress Working Committee brought up the matter of constituting such a committee some four or five years back," he said.

Calling the Naxalite problem "not only a law and order problem but a socio-economic one," Reddy said his Government will take necessary steps to address the needs of the poor villagers and tribals.

However, in the process of maintaining law and order if the Government has to take some strong steps and any partner in the coalition creates hurdles it becomes very difficult for it to function, Reddy said.

"As far as extremists are concerned we have tried to negotiate with them but apparently they are not willing to give up arms or even discuss about it," he said.